Sensitive skin and pregnancy

Many women find their skin is more sensitive during pregnancy, which can mean your skin may be more likely to burn in the sun or if you use a sunbed.

Changing hormone levels will also make you more prone to skin pigmentation (colouration). Dark, irregular patches of skin called chloasma sometimes appear on your face. This can be a sign your skin will react more strongly to UV rays. If you sunbathe or use a sunbed, the dark patches are likely to increase.

Direct and prolonged exposure to UV light also carries the risk of overheating for both you and your unborn baby.

Your unborn baby

There is currently no clear evidence about the effect of UV rays from sunbeds on an unborn baby.

Some studies have suggested there may be a link between increased UV rays and a folic acid deficiency. This is because UV rays can break down folic acid.

Folic acid is very important in the development of the baby's neural system (brain and spinal cord), which is formed during the first trimester of pregnancy (weeks 1 to 13). You should therefore increase your folic acid intake during this period.

Fake tan

It's generally considered safe to use fake tan creams and lotions during pregnancy.

The active ingredient in fake tan is dihydroxyacetone (DHA). This is a non-toxic substance that reacts with cells in the outermost layer of the skin and produces a brown pigment (colour) called melanoidin.

As DHA isn't thought to go beyond the outer layer of skin, it isn't absorbed into the body and can't harm your baby.

It's probably best to avoid spray tans, however, because the effects of inhaling the spray are not known.